Working Class Man

Students from 6B recently enjoyed studying the story of Labour Day. They were so enthusiastic that they thought it would be good to design a play to communicate the story to the whole Primary School.

A small group of students designed the script, another team designed the props, and yet another group looked after the technical side of the play.

The story involved a group of stonemasons who were fed-up with working such long hours, and their families who were equally fed-up as well! A team of construction site bosses negotiated with the stonemasons to eventually (after a strike) come up with 888 – 8 hours work, 8 hours rest and 8 hours recreation.

We added some songs – 'Working for the Man' by Roy Orbison and 'Working Class Man' by Jimmy Barnes, with one of our female singers rewriting a verse to reflect working class women as well.

The play was summed up by celebrating what wonderful working conditions we experience in Australia – and that is something we could all be thankful for after Monday’s Labour Day public holiday.

A connected Bible verse from the Old Testament was read to provide God’s perspective on work: 'There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God.' Ecclesiastes 2:24

We thank God for our wonderful country and the great working conditions we experience.

Congratulations to the Grade 6B students for bringing this old story to life!

- Mr Glen Strange, Year 6 Coordinator